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Magellan

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Posts posted by Magellan

    Went to mental health, got some tools that helped, nothing happened to career, still flying

    in General Discussion

    Posted

     

    6 hours ago, Vice said:

    FYSA for my dudes that may be struggling out there: go get the help from these people if you're struggling. Went in last year, had a few sessions, the psych gave me some tools (mental models and ways to approach my situation) that actually helped.

    Deployed a few weeks later, got back, had my FC I renewed, and deployed yet again. It's in my medical record as well.

    Mental health shit can creep in over time through your career unexpectedly. If anything, those tools you learn can help mentor someone else who might be struggling. This kind of stuff is going to be extremely important in the future as our conflicts get more intense. And don't listen to the dudes who finger wag at this shit, they have the luxury of not experiencing the ugly side of life- yet.

     

    CYA

    This is great advice.  My only caveat would be that not all AF mental health folks are the top of the barrel, but the price is right if you can get in to see them.  Don't dismiss the ability to use chaplains as well.  Most of them have significant training and experience as counselors that can often times rival the "mental health professionals" and their hours are a lot more flexible.  Feel free to try multiple options even if you aren't happy with the first one.  There are also online and phone hotline options that are available as free resources as well.

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 8/15/2024 at 11:04 PM, jice said:

    You’re not asking the right people outside of AFSOC.

    You mean the people that are just trying to keep Gen. Slife happy, or are acolytes of his but not currently in AFSOC?

    The reality is I can seek confirmation bias from any pocket of the Air Force at any level.  Great Power Competition is the reality we need to embrace.  We pulled out of the GWOT on terror, and it didn't end it just shifted fronts to Israel.  Because the bad actors in that region that want to destroy the west, western values, anyone that isn't a Islamic fundamentalist just shifted to the next closest target.

    Also, the foreign policy disaster of stopping Saudi from fighting the Iranian (Houthi) proxies in Yemen was idiotic from a Real Politik stand point. There are still a lot of fights in the world were AFSOC is the best game in town, but we aren't playing any more to the extent we were.

    • Like 1

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Swizzle said:

    https://www.airandspaceforces.com/photos-air-force-football-afsoc-uniforms

    Another motto is quiet professionals?

    "In good times people want to advertise; in bad times they have to" - Bruce Barton

    “Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith, and perseverance to create a brand.” - David Ogilvy

     

    What of late is the AFSOC brand? Thoughts?

    Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, hindsight2020 said:

    So, treat your ADSC contract like you work for the best paid regional airline, and a lot of this lamenting is self-limiting. If you pursue an extension of your one-sided contract, do so with eyes wide open. And to be clear, there are reasons why it's ok to be a "regional lifer" (ask me how I know). No right or wrong answer, only the right or wrong answer for each individual and /or dependent family.

    So what is life like for a regional airline pilot?  Asking for a friend...

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, QAZqaz said:

    Pretty interesting read, but it sure seems we are going the opposite direction WRT the bonus. One of the best quotes “'Additional Duties. . . We have an instructor pilot trying to get a forklift license.' —USAF Junior Officer"

    So when I was a casual Lt back before ORE/ORIs ended having a forklift license was useful multiple times as opposed to waiting on loggies or MX folks to move our gear, and it even helped during a short notice ONE tasker.  This was back when C-Models started coming apart and where grounded UFN and we needed to pack a bunch of stuff right before Christmas for a CONUS deployment.

    Honestly, I think it would be awesome if all the Lts waiting for pilot training got trained to drive buses, fork lifts, etc.  Because then the ops squadrons can just go to transportation check out the equipment, use it, and return it entirely on their schedule.  Plus then it would be easier to screen for buffoonerous personnel before people bend airplanes.  If you can't drive a bus or a forklift do we really want to trust you with an airplane?
     

    • Upvote 2

    Wisconsin Parade Attack

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    1 hour ago, ClearedHot said:

    So it was most likely wasn't terror, but still extremely fucked up.

    Brooks had left the scene of the domestic disturbance before officers arrived, and he was not being chased by police at the time of the crash, according to the chief.  Police were drawing up five charges of intentional homicide against Brooks, 39, of Milwaukee, Thompson said.

    He has been charged with crimes 16 times since 1999 and had two outstanding cases against him at the time of the parade disaster — including one in which he was accused of deliberately running down a woman with his vehicle.

     

    Clearly a victim of the system.

    Only shitty (can’t say silver) lining is the age of the fatalities was all age 52 plus.  Praying for all victims.

    Home Prices

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    13 hours ago, flammable said:

    What are my fellow PCS'ers doing in this market? I recently PCSed and home prices like much of the nation are wild around here. I keep trying to wrap my head around buying a house that appreciated 80k in 2 years and its tough. A house that sold in 2019 on zillow for 270 is now 350!

    On one hand, if I stay renting I am paying ~17-20K to someone else. On the other, if I buy even at these prices and stay for 2-3 years, that's equity I could be pocketing (even assuming a 10% market drop).

    Can you pay the mortgage for 15-30 years?  Do you want to pay the mortgage for 15-30 years.  If not rent.

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    55 minutes ago, pawnman said:

    If the only people taking the bonus are the ones who would stay anyway... why would the Air Force keep it? 

    Retention could tank even further.  I think it is a false assumption that those 30% were staying anyway.  The IDE, Staff, DO, SQ/CC, School, Staff hustle to stay Tier 1 and survive until 20 years becomes A LOT less appealing if you pay them $245,000 or more less...

    • Upvote 1

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Hunter Rose said:

     I'll enjoy the schadenfreude. I'd feel a little sympathy if the AF had left the bonus at pre-COVID terms.  But they didn't. They took the risk that COVID would affect the airlines longer, and offered a bonus with shit terms with less money/longer minimum commitments. They gambled and lost. So to hell with a big AF that makes it pretty clear they do not appreciate their rated force.

    Well given the direction this country is going since we are about to pass a 3.5 Trillion dollar piece of legislation I wouldn't be surprised to see the Airlines get nationalized if the party in power felt it was time to go to war.

     

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Sandiegosurf said:

    Hey All. New to the forum. I was selected for UPT (active duty) and guard/reserves is an unlikely an option, as I'm a little on the older side. How is the environment in the Air Force right now and is the flying worth the 10 year contract that follows UPT? I'm curious if you would make the same decision to join the Air Force knowing what you know now.

    I think things are great!  Come on in the water is fine.

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Guardian said:

    There are lots of drone opportunities in the civilian world and a lot of them do better than some airline pilots.

    Yeah that is coming to a screeching halt here soon.  GOCO/COCO contracts are all drying up as we pull out of the Stan and you will see the NGB Title 10 money dry up pretty soon as well.  That only leaves a handful of contractor jobs left, tons of qualified experienced contractors with no jobs, and lots of folks that were feeding their family's off of Guard/Reserve pay checks whose missions will dry up and be shifted back to AD units.  There may be a few hold outs on the NGB side if certain units commands get in bed with the right customers, but there isn't enough of that to go around.

    Interesting times...

    The other civilian opportunities that aren't contractor flying have always been there, but people had to really network, polish their resume, and be able to crush an interview or know someone who could pull you in to land them.

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Magellan

    So if we just make the pay comparable to the airlines and fix none of the other BS that pilots hate how does that help exactly?  Because if the money is the same and airlines are less BS don't the airlines still win for all of the other reasons mentioned?

    That said I know folks on all sides of the fence who were:

    1. "f'this noise I'm out" as soon as their ADSC was up

    2. Palace chase ASAP to get a line number then pick up AGR orders

    3.  Airline & TR

    4. Stay on AD with no bonus to have free agent status with regard to assignments

    5.  All in bonus takes that are ride or die Air Force.

    The only demographic I see winning/gaining anything under a "pro pay" system is the folks who are all in Air Force already.

    It seems to me like the system has those camps modeled as it is doing what it can to apply the bonuses given the constraints (imposed by congress) they are under.  Also, Springer has life figured out.  I take as much pride in flying the aircraft that I own and/or rent as I do anything the USAF has put me in.  Plus it can be just as much or more fun.  In my case I just married well to a woman that agreed to buy me an airplane with her salary!  But I know plenty of AD guys that can afford to own planes and fly a ton even on the AD salary.  Everything is just a tradeoff.

    Aircrew and Mental Health Services

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Magellan

    Depending on the situation (And not trying to advertise) but Noom is a fairly good option for people looking to get their life back in order.  I.E. trying to regain a sense of control over their life.  They throw a bunch of psychology at the wall and I am sure some people will find that 15-25% of it could stick for them.  And it is cheaper than seeing a clinical psychologist or licensed therapist.  Plus it is just on your phone so the only people that know are you and your credit card company.

    I would argue it is a much better approach then self-medicating with delicious fried food and booze.  Even if not nearly as fun in the short term...

    Promotion and PRF Information

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    22 hours ago, pawnman said:

    If you're trying for O-6...just go ahead and start AWC in correspondence.

    How fast can the current iteration of AWC be completed?  The book answer doesn't have an answer.

    https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/eSchool/documents/PME/Combined_PME_Handbook_current.pdf

    It lists 7 months for ACSC (which is very doable)...but doesn't put a timeline for AWC.  It looks comparable to ACSC maybe a little shorter.

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